Balloon launching method and apparatus



March 28, 1961 w. F. HUCH ETAL 2,977,069

BALLOON LAUNCHING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Oct, 4, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet1 INVENTORS. JOHN R. Wl/VCKLER WILL/AM F HUCH A TT'YS March 28, 1961 w.F. HUCH ETAL 2,977,069

BALLOON LAUNCHING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Oct. 4, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet2 INVENTORS: JOHN R. W/A/CKLER 'W/L MM F HUCH ATT'YS 'of Fig.7.;

BALLOON LAUNCHllNG METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Oct. 4, 1955, Ser. No.538,548

8 Claims. (Cl. 244-31) This invention relates to a method of and anapparatus for launching balloons and more particularly to the launchingof balloons for high altitude flight which requires that only a smallupper portion of the balloon be inflated with lifting gas.

In this method of launching, the uninflated balloon fabric, priortolaunching, if not controlled, tends to form a big sail andbecomes verydiflicult to manage in all but perfectly calm weather conditions. Anumber of methods have previously been employed to restrain this lowerfabric, one of which is to hold the balloon at the bottom of the upperportion which is to be the inflation bubble and inflate the balloonabove that point. The uninflated fabric comprising the lower portion ofthe balloon is then laid along the ground; The balloon is launched byreleasing-the holding device.

The-equipment used to hold a balloon at the base of the bubble in thismanner has heretofore been quite cumbersome for it had to be heavyenough to hold down the lift for the entire train of balloon andequipment. Another disadvantage inherent in this method is that there isno means of accurately determining the lift of thev bubble. Thismeasurement has proved to be impor tant; in order for the balloon to besuccessful, there must be suflicient lift to make the flight airborne,yet not so much as to give it a prohibitive rate of rise.

An important object of the invention is to provide a more eflicientmethod of launching a balloon.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved-balloonlaunching apparatus which greatly decreases undesirable disturbance tothe load. v

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved method andapparatus for'measuring the lift of a partially inflated balloon and tohorizontally restrain the lower uninflated balloon fabric.

Other objects of the invention will appear in the specification and willbe apparent from the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is aschematic view for illustrating balloon launching in accordance withthis method utilizing a lift-measuring torque wrench and a tie-downdevice which is attached to afloating clamp for holding down andreleasing the balloon;

Fig. 2'is an elevational view of a balloon clamp'as shown in Fig. 1; 7 I

Fig. 3 represents the floating clamp of Fig. 2 inropen or releasingposition; i

Fig.4 represents a floating clamp comprising aspool held by lines ateach end of the axis, one of which may be disconnected to release thespool;

Fig. 5 showsa balloon with a holding clamp-atthe I base of the liftingbubble; A p

Fig. 6 showsaclarnp in accordance with Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 shows a balloon hold down comprising aconfining ring andaninflated tube connected to a pressuremeasuring hold-downarranger nent;

Fig. ,8 shows, the ring and inflated tube-holding means 2,977,069Patented Mar. 28, 1961 Fig. 9 showswa partially inflated balloon asreleased of weighing the net lift of the balloon bubble by means of ascale; I

Fig. 16 shows another method of using a weight to measure the netballoon lift; and

Fig. 17 illustrates a method and apparatus of launching a balloon whichincludes a torque wrench applied to a horizontal lever which carries amounting spool for holding and releasing a partially inflated balloon.

This invention describes methods and apparatus whereby a balloon and itsequipment may be launched with simple light apparatus and in which thelift may be accurately measured.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, a

partially inflated balloon is shown in Fig. l with an inflated bubbleportion 20 and a gathered excess fabric lower portion 22 which is heldin an elevated substantially horizontal position by a support 24 nearthe bottom of the balloon and an anchor line 26 connected to the lowerend of the balloon and to a ground stake 28. A releasable holding spool30 connected to a ground stake 32 by a tension line 34-, is positionedover the juncture of the portions 20 and 22. In this tension line isconnected a torque wrench which comprises a beam 36 which has contactportions A and B over and under which the line 34 is passed at one endof the beam so that lifting pressure must beapplied at the other end ofthe beam in order to position it horizontally, and the upward pull ismeasured by a scale 38 which is raised by ta'handle 40 at the upper endof the scale. The upward pull may then be determined by the reading onthe scale and depending upon the'leverage and the inclinationof the line34. The

particular construction of this strain gauge forms no part of thepresent invention.

The holding spool 30 may be connected to the line 34 by a cross piece 42attached to the end of the line and having a link 44 pivoted to one endof a shaft 46 upon which the spool is rotated and the other end of theshaft 46 being connected to the cross piece by a separable link 4-8 sothatthe spool may swing outwardly as shown in Fig. 3 to insert andremove the balloon.

The holding spool 30 may also be represented as having one guy line 50attached to one end of the shaft 46 with a separable'loo'p or connection54 by which the other. end of the. spool may be released. The spool holddown and release-mechanismhas an additional advantage over priormechanisms sincefrom the start of inflation of the balloon all fabricbelow the; bubble can be controlled.

As more fabric is required ;for increasing the size of I the bubble,the. anchor line 26 is extended and thefab'rio;

, of the lower portion 22 rollsby the spool-to becornepart of thebubble; The balloon is easily released 'fromthe spool by simplydisengaging one end of the spoolshaft as above noted. Y

In other launching methods, the lifting force is held by anunknownamount-of friction onthe'clarnp which may pull in some localareas more thanothersq' .ByHusing restraining ,linesfandfloatingtherestraining device in the mannerof this invention, the danger dfdamagingthe 1 a fabric is largely removed; the clamp riding" to a position}where the friction is minimized. 'Ihe lift maybe meas v asraoeoured witha torque wrench inserted in the restraining line which permits anaccurate measurement of the vertical component of force which is the netlift of the balloon bubble. On release of the floating restrainingmeans, the balloon bubble travels down wind toward the anchor rope 26and any load which may be tied at the base of the balloon. When theballoon and load are completely airborne, the now-slack anchor line 26may be severed, releasing the balloon for free flight.

Several variations of the release device are shown in further detail.Figs. and 6 show a clamp having a base 56 attached to the tension line34 and a clarnping member 58 connected to the base at one end by a hinge6i and having any suitable fastening device represented by a hook 62 atthe other end for engaging the other end of the base 56. The gatheredportion of the balloon at the base of the bubble portion 26 is insertedbetween the members 56 and 58 of the clamp for holding the balloondownwardly, and the latch is released to open the clamp for releasingthe balloon.

As shown in Figs. 7, 8, and 9, the clamp comprises a circular girdle 64,preferably of metal, which is concave at the inner side for receiving aninflatable tube 66, like a tire therein. The lower gathered portions ofthe balloon are inserted through the girdle and tube, and the latter isinflated to hold the balloon therein, and the tension line 34 may berestrained by a load-tensioning device, as shown in Fig. 1. The line 34restraining this clamping device is cut at Star near the girdle 64 forthe launching. The girdle 64 and the tube 66 are carried by the balloonin flight as represented in Fig. 9. At a predetermined altitude, thetube 66 is deflated, and the girdle 64 and the tube are forced down onthe lower portion 22 of the balloon by the expansion of the upperportion 26 thereof. In Fig. 9 is shown a catcher 68 for the tube 66 andgirdle 64 or a parachute for aload 70 of instruments and the like whichmay be carried by the balloon.

An alternate method of using the girdle 64 and tube 66 is illustrated inFigs. l0, l1, and 12 in which the portion 22 of the balloon below thebubble is formed with a loop 72 which extends through the girdle andtube and is held in this position by the tube inflated against the loop.The girdle 64 and tube 66 ride with the balloon in flight, but at apredetermined altitude the tube is deflated or the pressure of thebubble 24 becomes so great that the girdle and tube are forced apart asrepresented in Fig. 12.

As shown in Figs. 13 and 14, the balloon may be restrained by a simpleband or ring 74 which preferably has a convex inner surface 76, throughwhich the gathered lower portion of the balloon may be launched. Theangle of the restraining line 34 should be kept from to by propertension in the portion 22 of the balloon to prevent slipping in theband.

Another'method and apparatus for weighing at launching is shown in Fig.15 in which the lower gathered portion 22 of a balloon is passed under aholding and releasing spool 78 supported at the ends by arms 66 eachpivoted to a spoolshaft 82 at one end and at the other to an upwardlyextending portion 64 of a mounting base 86 which has an oppositevertical extension 38 over which the lower portion of the balloonpasses, substantially in a horizontal position from the bottom of thespool. A tensioning line 90 is connected at its upper end to the spoolshaft 82 and at its lower end to the base 86 in a vertical position andis provided with a spring balance including a scale 92 to measure thetension Actual weights or a torque wrench may be substituted for thespring balance. The line 90 is tightened so that the restraining arms 80and the lower balloon fabric 22 are substantially in alignment.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. I 16, a restraining line 94 isconnectedat one end to the spool shaft 82 and at the other end to a fixed support96. 'A weight 98 is connected to the spool shaft 82 by a tensionlineldll which is substantially in line with the vertical bubble portionof the balloon. The gathered lower portion 22 of the balloon is engagedby an alignment clamp 162 which may be fixed in position so that themagnitude of the Weight 98 may be adjusted, or the clamp may beadjusted, to bring the restraining line 94 in alignment or parallel withthe balloon portion 22 which extends from the bubble 20 to the alignmentclamp.

The general idea of Fig. 16 is maintained in the method and apparatusshown in Fig. 17 in which the spool 78 is mounted in a rigid lever 104having a roller 106 at one end over which the gathered lower portion 22of the balloon passes after the bottom portion of the bubble 20 ispassed below the spool. At one end 107 of the lever 104 is atension-measuring device connected in a tension line 108 attached at itsupper end to said end of the lever and at its lower end to the groundstake 110. The other end of the lever is connected to the upper end of atension line 112 connected to a ground stake 114 and preferablysubstantially parallel with the tension line 108 at the other end of thelever. The lifting force of the bubble 26 is transmitted to the lever104 by reason of the engagement of the spool 78 therewith; and when thelower uninflated portion 22 is in a substantially horizontal position,the tension-measuring device will register the pull inthe tension line108 from which the vertical component may be determined. The lift of thebubble 20 is equal to the balancing torque at the end 107- of the lever1&4 divided by the distance from the axis of the spool 78 to the axis ofthe roller 106. The effective lift may be determined from the reading ofthe scale 38 in connectiorrwith the tension line 108 as previouslydetermined.

In all of these forms, the general idea is to provide a floating type ofrestriction determining the bottom of the enlarging inflation bubblewith the progress of prelaunching inflation, thus minimizing sail areaduring inflation, combined with mechanism for measuring the lift as suchinflation progresses so that the inflation operator will be able to seeto it that the lift reaches but does not exceed a predetermined valuewhich will insure the desired rate of rise of the balloon and attachedload and the balloons reaching the predetermined ceiling altitude.

It is thus apparent that the base of the bubble, i.e., the juncturebetween the inflated and uninflated portions, floats, and therestrictive means is operative, in response to the lift of the bubble,to compact the girth of the balloon material at the floating junctureand thereby minimize sail area. As lift gas is added the lift increases,pulling up hitherto uninflated balloon material past the restriction andthus providing a progressively enlarginginfla'ted portion at the expenseof the uninflated portion, the base or juncture shifting toward thebottom end of the balloon and being compacted by the restriction duringthe shift, so that sail area is minimized during the progress ofinflation.

While We have shown a variety of methods of measuring the verticalcomponent of a balloon lift and various means for launching a balloon,they should be regarded as examples or embodiments of the invention andnot as a restriction or limitation therein as many changes may be madein the construction and arrangement of the parts without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the inventron.

We claim:

1. In a balloon launching apparatus, the combination with a balloonhaving at one end a lift gas containing bubble portion extending upwardand a gathered uninflated portion extending laterally from thebottom ofthe bubble portion during the preparation for launching the balloon, ofmeans tethering the free end of the uninflated portion, means includinga line tethering the juncture of said portions, said bubble portionholding said line taut, and means connected with said line andresponsive to the stress imposed by said bubble portion on said line formeasuring the lift of said bubble portion, the second tethering meanscomprising a band and an annular inflated tube between which saidjuncture is clamped, said bubble portion being operative on expansion ofthe lower part thereof pursuant to soaring of the balloon to free saidjuncture from said band and tube.

2. In a balloon launching apparatus, the combination of a balloon havingat one end a lift gas containing bubble extending upward and a gathereduninflated portion tethered at its free end, a part of said gatheredportion adjacent said bubble being in the form of a U-loop, a handthrough which said loop extends, and an annular inflated tube coaxialwith said band and clamping the arms of said loop to said band, wherebysaid bubble, on expansion while the balloon is in free flight, will peesaid tube and band off said balloon.

3. In a balloon launching apparatus, the combination with a balloonhaving at one end a lift gas containing bubble portion extending upwardand a gathered uninflated portion releasably tethered at its free endand extending laterally from the bottom of the bubble portion during thepreparation for launching of the balloon, of a lever extendinglongitudinally of said uninflated portion,

tension members of substantially equal length pivoted to the respectiveends of said lever and to points fixed relative to the ground, the linebetween said points being substantially horizontal and equal to thelength of said lever so that when said tension members are extended theyform with said lever and line a variable parallel ogram with said leverhorizontal, said lever having intermediately of its length a rollerextending across. and over the juncture of said portions, said leverhaving an end roller over which a part of said uninflated portionpasses, and means connected with and responsive to the tension imposedon one of said tension members by the lift of said bubble portion formeasuring the amount of such lift.

4. A high altitude balloon comprising a lift-gas-inflated end portion,said portion and the adjacent part of the uninflated portion of theballoon entirely floating in the atmosphere, said inflated portionhaving a liftinsufliportion would freely float, whereby the girth of theuninflated portion, a roller in the crotch of and engaging cient tolaunch the balloon, and means compacting the girth of the balloonmaterial at the juncture of said por tions to minimize the sail area ofthe uninflated portion of the balloon.

5. A high altitude balloon comprising a lift-gas-inflated end portionentirely floating in the atmosphere but having a lift insuflicient tolaunch the balloon, the uninflated portion of the balloon extendinglaterally from the base of said inflated portion, means restraining theuninflated portion, a member in the crotch of and engaging the fullwidth of the balloon at the juncture ofsaid portions, 3

the full width of the balloon at the juncture of said portions, the axisof the roller extending Widthwise of the juncture, and a guy lineconnected to the ground and holding said roller at a fixed elevationspaced from the ground but below that at which the base of the-inflatedportion would freely float, whereby the girth of the balloon material atthe base of the inflated portion is compacted throughout the width ofthe material against the roller to minimize the sail area of theuninflated portion.

7 A method of minimizing the sail area of the uninflated portion of ahigh altitude balloon having a lift-gasinflated end portion having a'lift suflicient to float the entire inflated portion and the adjacentpart of the uninflated portion of the balloon but insuflicient to launchthe balloon, comprising the step of allowing the entire inflated portionand said adjacent part to float in the atmosphere and compacting thegirth of the floating juncture of said portions.

8. A method of minimizing the sail area of the uninflated portion of ahigh altitude balloonhaving a liftgas-inflated end portion having a liftsuflicient to float the entire inflated portion and the adjac'ent'partof the uninflated portion of the balloon but insufiicient to launch theballoon, comprising the steps of allowing the entire inflatedportion'and said adjacent, part to float in. the

atmosphere and compacting the girth of the floating juncture of saidportions at an early stage of inflation and allowing the added liftresulting from the addition of lift gas to enlarge the inflated portionat the expense of the uninflated portion without relaxing the compactingpressure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS f

